Pickerington North 38, Watterson 3

Thursday

The Pickerington High School North football team spoiled defending Division III state champion Watterson's return to the field Friday, Aug. 26, with a 38-3 victory.

The Pickerington High School North football team spoiled defending Division III state champion Watterson's return to the field Friday, Aug. 26, with a 38-3 victory.

The host Panthers fell behind 3-0 when Watterson's Brennan Clegg made a 39-yard field goal with 5 minutes, 15 seconds to go in the opening quarter but put together a 75-yard scoring drive on the ensuing possession.

Godwin Igwebuike ran for a 43-yard touchdown to make it 7-3, and the Panthers added 17 second-quarter points. North entered 0-3 all-time against the Eagles.

"When we gained some field, we gained momentum," North coach Tom Phillips said. "(Watterson is) a disciplined team and I was worried about their play-action, but I thought we played outstanding (defense) against them."

North took a 14-3 lead when quarterback Zach Olszewski threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Roland Ladipo with 10:30 left in the second quarter.

A turnover by Watterson led to the Panthers' next score. Stephon Goodwin intercepted a pass from Eagles quarterback Andy Elberson and returned it 35 yards to the Watterson 1 with 6:22 left in the first half. Olszewski ran it in on the next play to make it 21-3.

Zach Monhollen made a 49-yard field goal on the final play of the first half for a 24-3 lead. It was the longest field goal in school history, Phillips said.

The Panthers increased the lead to 31-3 with 1:04 to go in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Alston Robertson. During the drive, Olszewski hit Jamie Hence for 32 yards.

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